Bigfoot Survival Strategies: Learning from the Legend

By Tim Gamble

   Between Shadows and Light.

This article combines two of my interests: survivalism and cryptozoology. Combining these topics creates an interesting and thought-provoking analysis. I hope you enjoy reading this unique article as much as I enjoyed writing it.

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Bigfoot, also known as Sasquatch, is one of the most enduring and fascinating legends in North American folklore. If a large, bipedal ape-like species manages to survive undetected by modern science, they must be skilled at both survival and evasion. While the existence of Bigfoot remains a subject of hot debate, the many tales and supposed behaviors of this creature do offer some intriguing survival strategies. Here are survival lessons we might glean from the lore surrounding Bigfoot:

1. Bigfoot's Mastery of the Environment

• Camouflage and Stealth: Bigfoot is quite elusive, easily blending into the forest environment. Lessons for survivalists:
  • Learn camouflage techniques for both clothing and behavior to avoid detection by wildlife or potential threats.
  • Move silently through the woods, understanding how to step, where to place your feet, and how to avoid breaking twigs or rustling leaves.
  • Learn by doing - if you want to learn camouflage techniques and how to move silently in the woods, the best way to do so is by actually getting out into the woods and practice these techniques. Consider hobbies like hiking, backpacking, camping, and hunting.
• Knowledge of Terrain: Bigfoot knows his forests intimately. Lesson for survivalists:
  • Familiarize yourself with local geography, including escape routes, water sources, and edible plants. This knowledge can help in navigation and resource gathering.
  • Know your local areas of potential dangers (such as high crime areas, water contamination) and opportunities (potential resources such as local farmers markets, or nearby lakes & streams for water and fish).

2. Resource Utilization

• Natural Shelter: Bigfoot constructs shelters from natural materials. Lessons for survivalists:
  • Build shelters using branches, leaves, and mud when necessary. Understand how to make different types of shelters for various climates (lean-tos, debris huts, etc.).
• Foraging: Bigfoot likely lives off a diet of fish, deer, nuts, berries and other wild edibles. L
  essons for survivalists:
  • Learn to identify edible plants, fungi, and berries. Understand the seasons for harvesting and the signs of poisonous plants.
  • Learn how to hunt and fish. Again, the best way to learn is to do.

3. Survival Through Isolation and Adaptation

• Avoiding Human Contact: Bigfoot's supposed avoidance of humans can be a strategy:
  • Maintain situational awareness. Pay attention to the potential threats and opportunities surrounding you. (situational awareness and the OODA loop article link).
  • Keep a low profile in survival situations where human interaction could be dangerous or detrimental. This includes knowing when to stay hidden or move silently.
  • The Gray Man strategy within the survivalist community is about blending in and not standing out in your surrounds.
• Adaptation to Harsh Environments: Living in harsh conditions:
  • Adapt to extreme weather by understanding how to stay warm with natural insulation, finding or creating microclimates, and knowing how to start a fire in various conditions.
  • Practice by camping in winter, hiking in rain, etc.

4. Communication and Signaling

• Vocalizations/Tree Knocking: Bigfoot is often attributed with unique calls or sounds, and engages in "tree knocking":
  • Communication is important. Although typically thought of as a solitary figure, evidence actually suggest that they typically stay in small, loose knit family groups, and communicate over distances with vocalizations and tree-knocking.
  • Communications gear: Having the ability to communicate over distances with others is important. For humans, this could mean anything from phones, to radios, to emergency whistles, depending on the situation.
  • Develop your own communication signals with your family, group, and tribe. Learn to mimic animal sounds to mislead or distract.
• Leaving Signs: In some accounts, Bigfoot is said to leave signs like stick or rock structures, perhaps marking territory, travel routes, or areas of danger or resources. Lesson for survivalists:
  • Learn to use natural materials to leave messages or markers for others or yourself if you need to return to a spot later.

5. Physical Fitness and Endurance

• Strength and Agility: Descriptions of Bigfoot often emphasize its physical prowess. Lesson for survivalists:
  • Maintain your health and physical fitness to handle the rigors of survival. This includes endurance for long treks, strength for building and carrying, and agility for navigating rough terrain.

While Bigfoot may or may not be real, the survival strategies derived from the tales of this creature emphasize living harmoniously with nature, understanding your environment deeply, and using every aspect of your surroundings to your advantage. Survival isn't just about having the right gear; it's about adopting the mindset of being part of the natural world, much like Bigfoot seems to do. By embodying these strategies, survivalists can learn to navigate, live, and even thrive in environments that are as wild and mysterious as the legends themselves.

My previous article: Cryptozoology for Survivalists - Myths, Legends, and Practical Wisdom (article link).

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Ad: Two books by Dr. Russell Jones that I own and recommend to those interested in the mysterious world of unknown beasts: The Appalachian Bigfoot (Amazon link) and Tracking the Stone Man: West Virginia’s Bigfoot (Amazon link). "The Appalachians are an ancient and mysterious mountain range, whose peaks at one time rivaled the Himalayans. The mysteries of these mountains have been cataloged by Native American tribes and settlers alike. One of these mysteries is that Bigfoot inhabits these parts."